Conveyer feeding device



May 6, 1952 J. B. CALDWELL ETAL CONVEYER FEEDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 13, 1947 F i Ni w JM A. GmsEa May '6, 1952 Filed Aug. 13,1947 J. B. CALDWELL ET AL CONVEYER FEEDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 42HNVENTORS $.w. WOLF 43 Y 7 J-B'. CALDWELL AJA. GINSBERG 57 1 4 Q M y1952 J. B. CALDWELL ETAL 2,595,762

CONVEYER FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 3 1u.a.cALow:u. a a 5 A.A-GINSBERG Patented May 6, 1952 2,595,762 CONVEYERFEEDING DEVICE John Brodhead Caldwell, Albert Abraham Ginsberg, andStewart Wil tario, Canada liam Wolf, Toronto, On-

Application August 13, 1947, Serial No. 768,418

4 Claims. (Cl. 198-29) This invention relates to automatic sortingapparatus, for sorting beans and like articles.

It is the main object of the invention to provide a simplified structureand arrangement of the operative elements of sorting apparatus generallyand to improve the efficiency of same by means of a positive actingrejector which will reject articles from the machine, in a particularlyefiicientmanner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. bean sorter of thisclass which depends upon reflected light sensitizing a photo-electriccell governing operation of the rejector, the rejector being operativebelow or above a predetermined threshold value of reflected lightaccording .to the color and intensity of the latter and adjustment ofthe amplifier which amplifies the signals of the photo-electric cellgoverning the rejector.

With these and other objects in view, my in vention generally comprisesapparatus for sorting articles which includes a frame designed tosupport a pair of continuous belts, one of these being a feed belt andbeing disposed to partially overlie the other, or conveyor belt. Thefeed belt has a, plurality of spaced apart orifices punched therethroughand is mounted within a hopper, means being provided for engaging thebeans into these orifices and drawing the beans so engaged up aninclined plane until they rest upon the conveyor belt which is suitablygrooved. They then pass along the conveyor belt after .transfer theretoin predetermined spaced apart relation and proceed to a detector devicewhich includes a rejector designed to kicka faulty article from theconveyor belt to a disposal chute when energized by an electricamplifier system which derives the actuating signal from a photoelectriccell activated by light refiected from a particular article andemanating from a pair of concentrated light sources. I prefer to causeactuation of the rejector below a predetermined threshold value of lightand provide means for adjusting this value in-the electronic amplifier.It will be appreciated, however, that for the sorting of some articles,it may be desirable to cause actuation of a rejector above a certainthreshold value of light and therefore means are provided in theelectronic amplifier for accomplishing such an object.

- Other'objects of the invention will be apparent from a study of thefollowing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

.In the drawings, I Figure 1 is an elevation of a bean sorting apparatusaccording to my invention.

showing the conveyor belt in section supporting a bean ready to bekicked into a disposal chute. Figure 7 is a sectional view of therejector of Figure 6 indicating its specific construction.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit of the electric amplifierunit.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, the present sorting apparatusis shown as designed for the sorting of beans and comprises the frame Asupporting a drive motor B and the reduction belt and pulley system Cdriving the conveyor belt I0 which is mounted between the pulley wheelsII and Ila. The pulleys I2 and I3 mount the feed belt I4 such that thelower loop proceeds up an incline to engage the belt I0 and the pulleywheel II. A suitable crossed-over belt C, provides drive connectionbetween pulleys II and I2. Tension on the belt I4 is governed by theadjustable idler pulley I5 extending from secure connection to the postI6 of the main frame'A substantially as shown. A hopper ll designed forpassage of the lower loop of the feed belt I4 is inclined and mounts apair of pulley wheels I8 and I9, the latter being connected by a drivebelt 20 to drive connection on the pulley wheel I3.

A hopper belt 2| having claws 22 extending therefrom is mounted betweenthe pulley wheels l8 and I9 and moves in the same direction as the feedbelt I 4.

The feed belt as shown in Figures 2 and 3 has orifices 23 which arecountersunk on the underside of the belt as at 24, each orifice being ofsuch a dimension as to accommodate a predetermined size of bean andbeing preferably of leather. The belt 2| travels at a slightly fasterrate than the feed belt I4 and therefore the claws 22 .willurge thebeans into the orifices 23 and they will be held in the orifices as thefeed belt I4 progresses toward the pulley wheel I2. However, uponengagement with the pulley wheel I2, the bean resting in the orifice 23will have its upwardly extending surfaces forced in line with the uppersurfaces of the belt. The

main body of the bean therefore being in the area of the countersunkportion 24 will be released by the marginal surfaces of an orifice 23.The bean will thus be transferred to the belt M which has a longitudinalgroove |6a as indicated in Figure 4, a plurality of beans beingdeposited on the belt as it progresses, in predetermined spaced apartrelation according to the spacing of orifices 23 in belt [4. The beansare therefore deposited onto the belt l6 from the underside of belt l4in a particularly efficient manner and by employing the feature of ahopper belt as described, the belts l6 and I4 may be run atapproximately two feet per second with the beans spaced at a distance oftwo inches along the belt l0. At this spacing the beans proceed to beexamined by a detector device which preferably discards the unwantedbeans into a disposal chute.

Referring to Figure 5, the detector apparatus includes a pair of lampunits D and electronic amplifier unit E, a photo-electric detector F anda rejector G, the units D to F inclusive being mounted on the head frameH of the main frame A. The lamp units D, photo-electric detector F andrejector G are directed toward the con- The housing 26 may be adjustedrelative to the a cross-bar 28 by means of the adjusting rod 26pivotally connected to the housing clamp 36 and adjustably connected atits other end by suitable swivel fitting and nut 3| to the cross bar 28as seen in Figure l. A conventional lamp 32 is mounted within thehousing 26 having a reflector 33 to direct a substantially parallel beamthrough the reducing lens 34, the beam thereafter converging asindicatedby the chain lines 35 onto the bean 25. It will beappreciated that ifthe lens 34 is mounted within the housing 26 by means of an annularthreaded ring mated with an inner thread in the housing (not shown) thatthe beam 35 can be focused without adjusting the housing within thesleeve 21. Preferably both features are included.

The concentrated light directed on the bean 25 is reflected from itssurfaces through the aperture 36 of the light shield 31 and through thelens 38 in the light tube 39 of the photo-electric unit F. Preferably anoptical filter (not shown) is mounted within the light shield 31 infront of lens 38 or over aperture 36 in which latter instance aconventional filter accessory as is employed as an attachment forcameras would be satisfactory. The light passing through the lens 38 isdirected on a conventional photo cell (not shown) contained within thephoto cell housing 46 which converts the light energy to a voltagesignal passing the leads 4| to the amplifier unit E to energize rejectorG. V

The rejector G is shown in more detail in Figure 7 and includes thesolenoid winding 42 mounted within the iron housing 43 which ispivotally mounted by its housing bracket 44 and pivot 45 on the bracketarms 46 extending from the floor 41 which supports the conveyor belt H)as seen in Figure 1. The solenoid coil 42 is wound upon the spaced apartsoft iron core tubes 48 which are separated by a non-magnetic sleeve 49designed slidably to accommodate a soft iron piston 56 which has anon-magnetic rejecting 'arm 5| and opposed mounting arm 52 coaxiallyextending therefrom. The mounting ring 53 adjustably fixed to thehousing 43 has a pair of parallel spaced apart arms 54 extendingtherefrom having their free ends joined by a cross bar 55. The mountingarm 52 is resiliently connected to arms 54 by means of springs 56adjusting means for the springs being provided by adjustable bolts 5'!mounted in the arms. As shown, the springs are connected to the mountingarm to cause the sleeve 49 to be axially in advance of the piston 56corresponding to the withdrawn or normal position of the rejector arm 5|as shown in Figure 6. Upon energization of the coil 42, the piston 56will take up a position between the tube 48 corresponding to theposition of the sleeve 49 causing a kick and sharp advance of therejector arm 5| and a kicking of the bean 25 into the disposal chute 58.In order to limit the travel of the rejector arm 5|, the mounting arm 52carries a stop member 55 at its free end which will engage the stopplate 66 of the bracket 6|, the latter being adjustably mounted by thelock screw 62 on the adjustable stop shaft 63 made of insulatingmaterial. The latter is slidable in the bar 55 and is fixed in aposition of adjustment by the lock screw 64, the butt end 65 of shaft 63serving to prevent excess backward travel of the mounting arm 52 uponde-energization of coil 42, the combination of the stop plate and stopshaft providing a means of controlling axial oscillation of the rejectorarm 5| on the springs 56 thereby preventing interference withnon-detected beans passing along the conveyor belt H). The duration ofenergization of coil 42 is governed by limit switch means comprised ofthe resilient spring arms 66 and 61 extending from the stop' member 59,the latter being of Bakelite or similar insulated material to insulatethe arms 66 and 61 from the mounting arm 52. Arms 66 and 6'! areinterconnected electrically and carry at their free ends contacts 68 and69 designed to engage contacts 70 and H of the spring arms 12 and 73.Arm i2 is resilient and extends from rigid mechanical and electricalconnection from the stop plate 66 of bracket 6|, the arm 13 extendingfrom stop connection to butt end 65 of shaft 63. As shown, contacts 66and II are normally engaged when the coil 42 is not energized and whenthe piston 56 is at rest. Arms 66 and 6! are connected by means ofpliable wire 14 to terminal post 15 which is insulated from an arm 54 bysuitable insulating washer 16. The frame of the rejector is grounded asindicated by numeral H. The arm 61 is held on the butt end of shaft 63by axial screw means 63a which makes electrical connection with arm 73and has terminal post 18 on the free end thereof.

The rejector unit G is governed in operation by an amplifier amplifyingsignals from the photo-electric unit F and converting them intodifferent signals of high electrical energy. On referring to Figure 8,the photo-electric tube 19 having cathode 86 and anode 8| is shown withthe latter connected by way of resistor 82 and line '83 to a highvoltage terminal 84 of a conventional power supply (not shown) reversingswitch means indicated by the letter J are included in the anode andcathode circuit of the photo tube 79 in order to determine operation ofthe present sorting apparatus, according to whether rejectionof anarticle is required for a greater or lesser amount of light than acertain threshold -value. These switch means comprise terminals 85, 86and 81 engageable by switch arms 88 and 89, the latter being ganged,together mechanically and extending from electrical connection toterminals 90 and 9|. Switch means J are shown in a positioncorresponding to actuation of the rejector G for a decrease of lightbelow a certain value. Resistor 82 in plate circuit of tube I9 istherefore shorted out by switch arm 88. The cathode 80 has its shield 92grounded as at 93 and extends by way of line 94 to post BI andconnection by way of switch arm 89 and terminal 86 through the condenser95 to control grid 96 of .voltage amplifier tube 91. Resistor 98 extendsbetween line 94 and ground point 99 and resistor I determines voltageapplied to grid 96 in the conventional manner. Cathode bias I6Idetermines operation of tube 91 and the screen I02 and plate I03 thereofare connected in the conventional manner through voltage droppingresistors I04 and I05 to the high voltage terminal I06 of the powersupply (not shown). A conventional bypass condenser I0! is alsoconnected between screen I02 and ground point I08. Plate I03 feeds thegrid I09 of thyratron IIO through the conventional condenser III andresistor 2 arrangement and grid stopping resistor II3. Resistor I I2 isin the form of a conventional potentiometer one end thereof beingconnected by way of line II4 to terminal II5 of a separate bias supply(not shown). The cathode II6 of thyratron IIO is grounded as at 1, acondenser II8 extending between the latter and plate H9. The remainderof this figure is diagrammatic only and shows the rejecting arm 5|,piston 50 and mounting arm 52 and indicating mechanical operativeconnection to arms 66 and 61 of the limit switch means shown in Figure7. The plate II9 of tube H0 is connected to terminal 15 and in normalposition shown connected by way of arm 61 and contacts 69 and II toterminal I8. the latter beingconnected to one side of coil 42, the otherside of said coil being connected in series with resistor I20 to lineI2I connecting to terminal I06 of the power supply. Condenser I22connects between terminals 15 and 18 to reduce sparking when contacts IIand 69 are opened by energization of the coil 42 when thyratron IIOfires. Upon energization of coil 42 movement of piston 50 will causecontacts 68 and to close, thereby connecting plate II9 to ground anddeionizing thyratron tube I I0 immediately, and in this manner rapidfire of thyratron I I0 is possible within the mechanical limitations ofthe rejector mechanism G. I

In operation, the present apparatus as described, is adaptable for therejection of articles such as beans which have a color darker than acertain threshold value. In this connection it is necessary to mentionthat the particular value at which the beans will be rejected isdetermined by adjustment of the single potentiometer II2. If however, itis desired to reject the beans or other articles having a color lighterthan a certain particular value, then switch means J should be actuatedto cause electrical connection between terminals 90 and 86 and 9| and81, such that the cathode 80 is grounded by terminal 81, the latterbeing connected to ground at 81a. The plate 8I of tube 19 is connectedto condenser 95 and resistor 82 separates the plate 8| from the terminal84. Preferably, the belt I0 is colored in such a manner that lightreflecting therefrom is substantially equivalent to the light reflectinfrom articles which it is desired to retain. In

the present case the photo tube 19 is of the blue sensitive type wheresorting of white beans is being carried out. If desired, switch means Jmay be eliminated if converse operation is desired by employing a redsensitive photo cell and changing the filter for the same appropriately.Adjustment of the present apparatus involves only the placement of anarticle of worst acceptable value beneath the photo cell unit F andsubjecting the same to light from the lighting units D. Thepotentiometer H2 or threshold adjusting means is then adjusted until therejector just ceases to be actuated. The hopper I! may then be filledwith beans (in the present instance) and the motor unit started to beginsorting operations. It is preferred that the rejector unit G as shown inFigure 5 be located slightly to one side of the intersecting point ofbeans 25 and the axial line of the photo cell unit F to make up for thetime interval in the mechanical action of the rejector unit. Thenon-rejected beans are allowed to travel along the conveyor belt untilit passes over the pulley wheel Na and upon proceeding around thepulley, fall by gravity into the chute 58a' for collection in bags asdesired.

It will be apparent that the present apparatus is greatly simplified incomparison with former devices employed in the general field of sortingarticles according to color. Apparatus incorporating the presentfeatures may be designed to sort many different kinds of articles and inall instances effective control will be maintained by means of the fewsimple adjustments described. In order to start operation, it is merelynecessary to determine the threshold value of light governing thesorting of the particular articles which usually will require only theslight adjustment of potentiometer II2.

It will be obvious that a plurality of devices, each being of the naturedescribed, may be incorporated in one unit to prove six sortingconveying belts as a practical size unit. Such a scheme however, ismerely the duplication of the device as described, constituting aplurality of parallelly spaced apart units mounted on a single frame andwith a common drive means. Separate'rejector units however, will benecessary in each instance.

What I claim as our invention is:

1. In automatic sorting apparatus for sorting beans and like articleswhich includes a frame and a drive motor; a continuous feed belt havinga plurality of orifices in spaced apart relation therealong and havingan under loop and an over loop, a hopper, means on said hopper forforcing articles therefrom into the orifices of said feed belt in theunder loop, a continuous conveyor belt mounted on said frame and havingan upper loop and an under loop, a portion of said upper loop beingdisposed to engage a portion of said under loop of said feed belt, saidconveyor belt and said feed belt being operatively driven by said drivemotor whereby articles disposed in the orifices of said feed belt bysaid hopper are transferred by the former to said conveyor belt.

2. Sorting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the remainingportion of said lower loop of said feed belt is inclined upwardly in thedirection of its travel, and a pulley wheel adjacent to and determiningthe portion of said feed belt engaging said conveyor belt and adapted tourge articles lodged in said orifices from lodgment lation of saidorifices of said feed belt upon enfeed belt providing a faster rate oftravel of the 10 former relative to said feed belt.

4. In automatic sorting apparatus for sorting beans and like articleswhich includes a frame and a drive motor; a conveyor belt driven by saidmotor, a continuous feed belt having a plurality of orifices in spacedapart relation therealong "and having an under loop and an over loop,the

under loop of said feed belt engaging the surfaces'of said'conveyor beltand overlying a portion of the latter, a hopper being designed forpassage of the lower loop of the feed belt'therethrough and beingadapted to receive a plurality of said articles, and means within saidhopper operatively connected to said drive motor for forcing saidarticles into the orifices of said feed 8 belt, said conveyor belt andsaid feed belt being driven bysaid motor;

JOHN BRODHEAIJ CALDWELL. ALBERT ABRAHAM GINSBERG. STEWART WILLIAM WOLF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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